Chapter 543: The Black Mountain

Above the clouds, an immortal mountain looms.

This "White Jade Capital" was originally just a decorative object, but when magnified countless times, the mountain's aura immediately became prominent.

The palace carvings, faint and indistinct, further emphasized its extraordinary nature.

Li Yan's eyes lit up with delight, and he rose at once.

Indeed, he had not guessed wrong!

Over these two days, he had studied this treasure and formed a hypothesis.

Such special celestial and terrestrial treasures typically operate on the spiritual level, and their true power manifests likewise.

Like the Divine Palace of Yunzhongjun or the Witch Mountain Goddess Palace.

Even if the original body has been destroyed, after thousands of years, it can still cause one to dream and wander through scenes from millennia past.

The more powerful ones can even hover between illusion and reality, drawing things out from within—like the Divine Palace of Yunzhongjun.

This "White Jade Capital" ornament was naturally not that powerful, but for Li Yan, it was sufficient.

He continuously chanted the "Fengdu Precious Litany," his hands forming seals, tapping rhythmically on his finger joints, circulating the numbers of the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha.

Boom!

Thunder roared in the heavens, the Gang and Sha energies surging.

The massive spectral image of the "White Jade Capital" slowly descended from the sky, drawing nearer to the summit of Luo Feng Mountain.

Simultaneously, strange phenomena arose in the external paradise.

The primordial Gang and Sha energies flowed, forming visible mist that poured into the "White Jade Capital" ornament.

Countless pores resonated together—drums, sheng, xiao—as if a musical ensemble were playing Daoist melodies.

That uncle-teacher on Qingcheng Mountain had truly misjudged it.

Had he heard this "Dao sound," he would have wept with joy and hurriedly enshrined the treasure high on a shelf—never letting it fall into Li Yan's hands.

The primordial Gang and Sha energies continuously surged through the honeycomb-like pores of the "White Jade Capital" ornament, gradually taking on a faint purple hue.

Purple mist swirled, rising and lingering without dissipating.

As the immortal mountain slowly descended within his visualization space, this purple mist drifted gently toward Li Yan's mouth and nose.

Boom!

Within the visualization space, the thunder grew even more violent.

As the immortal mountain drew ever closer, Li Yan's Great Luo Dharma Body stirred in response.

Li Yan suppressed this longing, continued chanting, and held his seals, focusing all his spirit on the immortal mountain.

From afar, it appeared as a vague shadow, almost substantial.

But up close, it resembled a dense cloud composed of primordial Gang energy.

At the instant it touched the mountain's peak, the energy instantly dispersed, enveloping the summit as gales howled and lightning cracked.

Outside, the purple aura emitted by the "White Jade Capital" was entirely drawn into Li Yan's mouth and nose.

As if all its spiritual essence had been plundered, the once smooth, jade-like texture of the "White Jade Capital" ornament rapidly turned rough, like weathered jade, even becoming plaster-like.

This treasure had become utterly mundane.

"Lord of Fate and Fortune, judging life and death. Ten palaces all bow in reverence, six caves all raise hands in homage…"

Within the visualization space, Li Yan's chanting grew louder.

The white mist gradually absorbed into Luo Feng Mountain.

After an indeterminate time, the white mist vanished completely.

Luo Feng Mountain had transformed entirely.

Once a lofty, desolate, silent peak, its jagged rocks clearly marking it as no place of virtue.

Now, green stone steps appeared, winding mountain paths, stone halls crisscrossing around Li Yan's Divine Tower Palace, along with caves and divine niches.

Yet the niches stood empty.

It appeared chaotic, yet followed a pattern: eight caves, centered on the Divine Tower, arranged according to the Eight Trigrams.

Outside, eight similar caves had also appeared.

At the very base of Luo Feng Mountain, six stone palace-caves emerged, larger and darker, their interiors obscured.

Success!

Li Yan, upon seeing this, was filled with joy.

The Fengdu Method has three tiers: the Master Class, the Saint Class, and the General Class.

Juechenzi had taught him the General Class.

The Fengdu Generals are further divided into Inner and Outer Eight Generals.

Do not underestimate these Yin Bureau divine generals.

Li Yan had witnessed their power—they appear when capturing demonic energy, directly suppressing it.

Remember, this is the power of the Seventy-Two Demon Gods, even if only one-tenth, yet immortal and relentless, truly vexing.

Of course, even if Li Yan perfected the Fengdu Method, he could not break the rules and summon these generals from the underworld at will.

After perfecting the Fengdu Method, there are three benefits.

First, it enhances the power of the Gang Command.

Previously, when he activated the Gang Command, he could only summon Yin Bureau troops; now, after refining his spirit to condense Yin Generals, he could command them to deploy.

This is what Juechenzi meant by the difference.

Before, he was merely a "clerk"; now, he is a "official," no longer on the same level as other "living Yin Officers."

The more tasks completed, the higher one's rank within the Yin Bureau.

Second, the inherent power of the Yin Generals.

By practicing the Luo Feng Method, one can use Yin Sha Qi to form statues of Yin Generals within these palaces and caves, drawing upon their strength.

For example, the Outer Altar Eight Generals typically wield iron clubs, wear yellow headbands and black hemp shoes, their faces fierce and terrifying.

The new techniques require these Yin Generals to be invoked.

Third, combat against others.

In the future, when performing the Great Fengdu Summoning Method, all sixteen generals from the inner and outer altars will emerge—fully capable of contending with the great Daoist sects.

Even more pleasing to Li Yan were the six caves below the mountain.

Within them dwell the Six Cave Demon Kings; when the Luo Feng Scripture is cultivated to a profound level, one may summon them—their power is astonishing.

He had not expected that absorbing the "White Jade Capital" would cause them to manifest prematurely.

Of course, with Li Yan's current cultivation, he could not summon them yet.

But the power of the Yin Sha Qi in his soul sea had already begun gestating within them.

The Fengdu Method has another distinction: at the Sixth and Ninth Levels of cultivation, when forming the second and third palaces, one gains two astonishing abilities: the "Fengdu Nine Springs Command Seal" and the "Investigator of the Three Realms Ghosts and Gods Seal."

Once possessing the "Fengdu Nine Springs Command Seal," one can command the Six Cave Demon Kings to manifest partial power.

One could say the path ahead has been paved.

Li Yan suppressed his excitement and continued chanting the "Fengdu Precious Litany," forming seals to link the power of the three Divine Towers and one palace with the eight outer palaces.

Originally, visualizing these palaces required long refinement, only slightly easier than constructing a tower.

After absorbing the spiritual essence of the "White Jade Capital," he saved time, achieving it instantly—and with even greater profundity.

But constructing palaces was merely the foundation.

One must condense the Yin General's Dharma Body to harness their power.

With his current cultivation, he could only condense the Outer Altar Eight Generals.

Boom!

As the Outer Altar Eight Generals' caves connected, thunder roared continuously within the visualization space, Yin Sha Qi gathered, black winds howled within the caves, gradually forming indistinct human shapes.

But at that moment, the Gang and Sha Qi suddenly weakened.

Li Yan had been in seclusion, unaware that dawn had broken—he had passed Zi Hour, and the primordial Gang and Sha Qi had faded.

Huh~

The wind howled, and the figures dissolved instantly.

Li Yan's eyes flickered with disappointment as he slowly opened them.

Inside the cave, the thick frost was slowly melting, and all the lotus lamps around him had gone dark.

Crack!

The "White Jade Capital" ornament suddenly shattered.

After an entire night, he had not succeeded in building a tower.

To condense the Yin General's Dharma Body and construct the Fourth Level Tower, he needed two more nights.

Thinking of this, Li Yan rose and pushed open the stone door.

Huh~

Icy gales immediately howled in.

But compared to the Yin chill within Guanlan Ancient Cave, it was nothing.

Li Yan's face turned blue with cold, his body stiff—he paid no mind to anything else and sprinted straight to the thatched hut outside the gorge.

"Young Master Li, come warm yourself quickly."

The two Daoist guards, seeing this, hurriedly invited him inside.

After warming himself by the fire for a long while and eating some dried rations with ginger soup, Li Yan improved considerably, his complexion returning to normal.

"Thank you both."

"Are you leaving, Young Master Li?" "Probably two more days. Do you have any Soul-Guiding Lanterns?"

"Of course. Many are left over from our cultivation brethren."

"Good. I'll buy some, and continue tonight."

After some conversation, Li Yan slept in the thatched hut; when he awoke, night had fallen.

He ate a light meal, took the lotus lantern, and swiftly departed, vanishing into the snowstorm.

Inside the hut, two Daoists exchanged glances.

"They said he was a genius—why is he struggling so much?"

"Who knows? Lingyunzi said to give him some attention. Let's not meddle."

After returning to Guanlan Ancient Cave, Li Yan set up another altar. At midnight, he closed his eyes, concentrated his spirit, and gathered the Yin General statues...

…………

In the grand courtyard of Shunyuan Escort Agency in Guanxian.

!. Read

"It seems we won't arrive today."

Sha Li Fei glanced at the street outside, worry in his eyes, then turned and asked: "Master Dao, is Young Master Li alone safe?"

"Don't worry."

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and shook his head. "When I descended the mountain, I carefully observed. Zhao Gong Mountain is a key site of Mount Qingcheng—steep paths, arrayed formations, and spirit beasts guarding it."

"Young Master Li just received a transmission; he'll need time."

After descending yesterday, he quickly rejoined Sha Li Fei and the others, helped Wang Tianzuo prepare medicine, and adjusted his body.

"Good."

Sha Li Fei rubbed his bald head and frowned. "We have no leads at all. We've asked everyone—no one matching the person Young Master Li described has ever appeared."

Wang Daoxuan pondered, stroking his beard. "Perhaps you're looking in the wrong direction."

Sha Li Fei blinked. "Master Dao, explain."

Wang Daoxuan gave a signal, bringing Sha Li Fei, Wu Ba, and Lu San back into the room, then unfolded the "Ruyi Treasure Pearl."

The Shunyuan Escort Agency's courtyard was small and crowded—better to be cautious with such matters.

"Young Master Li said—how large was this Chengdu merchant?"

Wang Daoxuan asked the group.

"About thirty or forty."

"What about Lu Laohei?"

"Brother Wang said he was over fifty."

"That's it."

Wang Daoxuan spoke: "The reincarnation must have occurred thirty or forty years ago, when Lu Laohei was still young."

"Though we don't know what happened then, the Mei Shan brothers suffered heavy losses—this might have been a major case in Guanxian too..."

"Also, after reincarnation, the child needed care. Lu Laohei was a bachelor—if he couldn't raise the child himself, he might have left it with someone else, yet he'd still visit..."

"That person loved lamb. Common folk couldn't afford it. Ask the butchers in town—who used the most lamb?"

"Oh!"

Sha Li Fei smacked his own head hard, cursing: "I kept thinking to ask around the martial world, never considered this! Master Dao, you're brilliant—I'll go find Brother Wang right away!"

"Not yet."

Wang Daoxuan shook his head. "It's dark. Guanxian is small, and both the Shu Prince's mansion and Chengdu's underworld are watching. Making noise might ruin everything."

"Disguise yourselves tomorrow, and inquire quietly."

"Master Dao is absolutely right..."

The group discussed inside the room, hearing no sound.

Outside, a servant of the escort agency carried hot water, glanced stealthily, eyes flaring with anger, then entered a side room in the neighboring courtyard.

Crash!

A basin of hot water was slammed onto the ground.

"Hey, Old Three, who pissed you off?"

Several escort disciples were drinking and eating peanuts; they immediately asked.

"Who would dare anger me?"

The disciple named Old Three sneered: "Our Boss Wang is righteous—he gives his heart out helping them, and gets nothing but trouble."

"Look at them—whispering, avoiding us, up to something, clearly suspicious of us!"

He didn't name names, but everyone knew.

"Shh, lower your voice!"

An elder escort master quickly warned: "They're big shots. We're just trying to earn a living—we can't afford to provoke them."

"Exactly. Let big shots handle their own affairs."

Another shook his head: "New Year's coming—I just want to leave early, collect my share in Chengdu, and let my family have a peaceful holiday."

At this, everyone began complaining.

"Isn't that true?"

"We were told to stay one day—now it's been days. Are we going to spend the New Year here?"

"New Year?!"

The escort master nicknamed Old Three sneered: "What good dreams you have! We've angered Chengdu's underworld and the Shu Prince's mansion—none of this is our business. Why should we get dragged into this?"

"If we mess up, we'll all die here!"

At this, the escort masters fell silent.

Though they were disciples of Huangling Sect, they were ordinary men—trained hard for years, just to earn a living.

This matter had nothing to do with them.

Only a fool would stay here risking his life.

Slam!

Old Three grew angrier by the moment, slammed his fist on the table: "I'm done—I'm telling Boss Wang right now—we leave tomorrow!"

"I'll go too!"

"Me too!"

The escort masters, already discontent, now had a leader—and with a bit of wine in them—immediately rose.

The courtyard was small; their noise drew other escort masters and cart drivers, who gathered around.

They arrived outside Wang Tianzuo's room.

Wang Tianzuo had just taken his medicine under his disciple's care; he rose quickly, stepped outside, face darkening: "What do you want?"

"Greetings, Boss."

Everyone bowed respectfully.

Wang Tianzuo had great authority; the others lost courage, but Old Three, hot-tempered, blurted: "Boss, this has nothing to do with us—why get involved? Can't we leave tomorrow?"

"The brothers are waiting to celebrate the New Year!"

At this, all eyes turned to Wang Tianzuo.

Wang Tianzuo felt torn.

He helped Sha Li Fei and the others out of martial righteousness, to make connections, and because Lu Laohei was dead—he owed him something.

But as Boss, ensuring these brothers returned safely to Chengdu mattered more.

The commotion drew Wang Daoxuan and the others outside.

Seeing the escort agency in turmoil, Sha Li Fei smiled faintly, bowed: "You're right—we were wrong. Brother Wang, you may leave tomorrow. We'll handle this matter."

He meant avenging Lu Laohei.

"This..."

Wang Tianzuo looked embarrassed, sighed, and gave a slight bow: "Young Brother Sha, I'm humbly asking you to take this burden."

Sha Li Fei and the others didn't even know Lu Laohei—saying they'd avenge him was purely taking on his karmic debt for Wang Tianzuo's sake.

The escort masters didn't understand—but he knew.

With the matter clarified, a conflict was avoided.

The escort masters, thrilled at the prospect of returning home, packed their bags all night, ready to depart at dawn.

Sha Li Fei and the others returned to their rooms to sleep.

Honestly, with the Shunyuan Escort Agency gone, they felt lighter.

Unnoticed, night deepened.

In his sleep, Lu San suddenly opened his eyes, rolled over, grabbed the bone club beside him, and silently crept to the window, lifting it gently.

Under the moonlight, several pale heads slowly rose above the courtyard wall.

Their faces were deathly white, blood streaming from all seven orifices—each one a corpse...

(End of Chapter)